The incident has since received international attention.
On Saturday, April 26, (local time) the Filipino community in Canada held an event in celebration of the Lapu-Lapu Day in Vancouver.
However, the festive spirit soon turned into a grinning tragedy after a car plowed into the crowd at around 8:00 pm (Canadian local time).
According to the inital statement made by the police on X, formerly Twitter, “A number of people have been killed and multiple others are injured after a driver drove into a crowd at a street festival at E. 41st Avenue and Fraser shortly after 8 p.m. tonight.“
It added that the driver, which was only identified as a 30-year-old man, has been arrested and is already in their custody.
The Lapu-Lapu Day is touted as one of the biggest celebrations of the Philippine community in the country and was officially recognised by the British Columbian government in 2023.
In his own comment on the incident, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his “devastation” about the incident.
“I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening.”
He furthered, “I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you.”
Meanwhile, following the shocking news about our “kababayans” abroad, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has since put up his own message through the Presidential Communications Office.
“I am completely shattered to hear about the terrible incident during a Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, BC, Canada,” Marcos said.
The Philippine President, First Lady Liza Marcos, and the entire government, have also expressed their deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Filipino community in Canada.
“The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver is working with Canadian authorities to ensure that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and that the victims and their families are supported and consoled,” PBBM continued.
For yhe Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), it has also extended its condolences to the victims, their families, and the Filipino-Canadian community.
“The CFO, which is the agency that looks after the interests of permanent and long-term migrants, is actively monitoring the situation. Investigation is underway, but media reports citing Canadian authorities said that the incident was not attributed to terrorism,” it said.
The commission also sent its gratitude to the emergency first responders and law enforcement officers of the city who acted swiftly to provide medical support and aid to the victims.
CFO Chairperson, Secretary Dante Ang II, meanwhile, said “the CFO stands in solidarity with the Filipino-Canadian community during this tragic and difficult time. I also thank the Vancouver community for its outpouring of solidarity and compassion during this difficult time.”
The commission also noted that Canada is home to the second biggest number of Overseas Filipinos globally, with a total of 973,881 residing in the North American country.